Fresh tensions have emerged in the Gulf region following reports that the United States launched strikes on Iranian maritime targets near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to accuse Washington of violating an existing ceasefire agreement.
According to Fox News, citing a senior US official, American forces targeted Iran’s Qeshm Port, Bandar Abbas, and several vessels operating near the Gulf of Oman. Despite the attacks, the official reportedly maintained that the operation did not represent a formal return to war or the collapse of the April 7 ceasefire deal between both countries.
The reported strikes triggered heightened military alertness in Iran, with state media announcing that air defence systems had been activated in western Tehran to intercept what authorities described as “hostile targets.”
Iran’s Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya accused the United States of coordinating attacks on Iranian maritime and coastal infrastructure close to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian military authorities alleged that US forces struck an Iranian oil tanker travelling from waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, alongside another vessel entering the waterway near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
Tehran further claimed that the attacks extended to civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
“The criminal and aggressive United States and its supporting countries must know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as always, powerfully and without the slightest hesitation, will deliver a crushing response to any act of aggression and violation,” a spokesperson for the Iranian military headquarters reportedly said.
Iran also announced that its armed forces carried out retaliatory attacks on US military vessels operating east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Bandar Chabahar.
According to Iranian authorities, the retaliatory strikes caused “substantial damage” to American naval assets, although there has been no independent confirmation from US officials regarding the extent of any damage.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, serving as a key passage for a significant share of global crude oil exports. The latest escalation has renewed concerns over possible disruptions to international shipping and global energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Fox News correspondent reported on X that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait briefly suspended permission for the US military to use their bases and airspace for the now-paused “Project Freedom” operation before later reversing the decision.
Iran seized on the development to accuse Washington of working alongside unnamed regional allies in carrying out the attacks.
“The US attacks on Iranian coastal areas were carried out in coordination with some regional countries,” Iranian military officials claimed.
The latest confrontation adds to already strained relations between Tehran and Washington over maritime security, regional alliances, sanctions, and Iran’s nuclear programme, with observers warning that any prolonged conflict around the Strait of Hormuz could deepen instability across the Middle East and impact global markets.
